HOCKEY / LISA DILLMAN : Oiler Connection Hasn’t Helped Rangers

TORONTO â€”  Glen Sather, the Edmonton Oilers’ general manager, spotted Neil Smith, the New York Rangers’ general manager, with several writers in the media dining room at Edmonton and decided to tease his counterpart.

Sather said, loudly: “If you can’t win the Stanley Cup with this lineup. . . . “

He then suggested, colorfully, that Smith be harshly punished for such a failure.

Everyone laughed. But these days, laughter isn’t heard too often in the Rangers’ front office, especially with the team in danger of missing the playoffs. But back when the Rangers were at Edmonton, in late February, there was hope, with defenseman Brian Leetch planning to return within weeks.

Instead, Leetch only returned briefly before suffering a broken ankle slipping on some ice while getting out of a cab.

Smith failed to get another defenseman by the trading deadline and made only two insignificant deals. He gambled with goaltender Mike Richter, not trading him when his value was higher earlier in the season. By the time Smith decided to move Richter, the goaltender’s worth had dropped dramatically.

Injuries have continued to nick away at the Rangers, with the latest being defenseman James Patrick’s herniated disk. Still, the Rangers have underachieved nearly all season, even before the injuries and trades. Maybe the Kings haven’t been the only ones who haven’t had success with the transplanted Oiler system.

After all, Sather is quite familiar with Smith’s roster because it is dotted with his former players: Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Jeff Beukeboom, Kevin Lowe and Esa Tikkanen.

The Islanders are one point ahead of the Rangers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. The Rangers have lost five of their last six games at home. They will play the Islanders one more time, on Friday at Madison Square Garden, but the Islanders appear to have an easier schedule, with two games against Hartford and one against Ottawa.

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The NHL Players Assn. swung into action during the weekend, lending support to Winnipeg goaltender Bob Essensa at his arbitration hearing. Executive Director Bob Goodenow and his associate counsel, Ian Pulver, flew to Winnipeg for last Saturday’s seven-hour hearing before arbitrator Michel Picher.

The Jets brought in Toronto-based lawyer Larry Bertuzzi, who was the arbitrator in the Eric Lindros case last summer. Essensa had asked for $1.26 million (Canadian), while the Jets’ offer was $564,000, though they offered $750,00 during the season.

Winnipeg attempted to place Essensa in a category with goaltenders Ron Tugnutt of Edmonton and Toronto’s Daren Puppa. Essensa’s advisers compared him with Vancouver’s Kirk McLean and St. Louis’ Curtis Joseph.

Afterward, the Jets weren’t gloating, although General Manager Mike Smith seemed pleased with the hearing. Essensa’s side was subdued.

That meant nothing Monday, when Essensa was awarded $1.125 million, plus additional bonuses, for the richest salary arbitration ruling in NHL history. The previous high was $1 million, given to Quebec’s Joe Sakic. Essensa’s victory was the first for the players in six arbitration hearings.

“There’s no reason to gloat about an award like this,� said Essensa’s agent, Michael Barnett. “This happened because of what the player accomplished.�

Said Jet owner Barry Shenkarow: “When you have a disagreement, it doesn’t mean you have to have a divorce. You have to work it out. We had a disagreement about the market value this year.�

Shenkarow indicated that he would use the ruling as a base in working out a new deal with Essensa this summer. The 28-year-old goaltender has 29 victories and a 3.54 goals-against average this season and finished third in voting for the Vezina Trophy last season. Now the small-market Jets have three millionaires on the roster with Essensa joining rookie right wing Teemu Selanne ($1.9 million) and defenseman Phil Housley ($1 million).

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The Minnesota view of Dallas-bound Star owner Norm Green has plummeted to an all-time low.

From Minneapolis Star-Tribune columnist Dan Barreiro: “These Texans are wily, all right. They proved it once when they sent Herschel Walker to Minnesota. They have proved it again by getting Norm Green to go to Dallas. But not before they tightened the noose around his slippery neck. Southern hospitality is one thing, but bidness is bidness, hoss.

“Those wily Texans swallowed you whole, Norman. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving jerk. Here’s hoping some crazed armadillo eats your stupid mutts for lunch, too.�

From St. Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch columnist Tom Powers: “To the good people of Dallas-Ft. Worth:

“Congratulations. You lose.

� . . . Meanwhile, Norman will walk the corridors of Reunion Arena schmoozing with the common folks. He’ll kiss your babies and your secretaries. He’ll give you a Stars pin. And he’ll ask for your suggestions. A word of caution: Keep moving and keep your hand on your money clip.�